Review Centre: 2000s Era Musicians & Bands

"Rating 5/6 : Very Enjoyable Absolute Mayhem The Horse & Chains, Bushey on Saturday 30 September 2023 It's a rare thing to go into a local pub and hear a keyboard player who has been described as a musical "genius" by none other than David Bowie. This is no tall story either. The musician Billy Ritchie was the first player in rock music to give keyboards a prominent role -- and that was before Keith Emerson (ELP) and Rick Wakeman came on the scene. Billy told me that he remained good friends with the Thin White Duke until his death in 2016. Lanark-born Mr Ritchie now provides the skilful and fancy keyboards and records backing tracks for his latest incarnation Mayhem with talented female singer Carol Leslie. Carol is a really strong vocalist with a gutsy style. This dynamic duo started their first set at the cosy Sebright Arms with Elvis's late sixties' classic Suspicious Minds. The second song was a surprise -- Kirsty MacColl's comedy number There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears His Elvis. It was a perfect choice after the first song. Carol and Billy select their material wisely and give their audience something very different from the predictable Mustang Sally, Brown Eyed Girl and I Saw Her Standing There, churned out by so many pub bands. So it was great to hear Georgio Moroder and Phil Oakey's electro smash Together In Electric Dreams, Matchbox's catchy rocker Rockabilly Rebel, Starship's uplifting We Built This City (on which Billy demonstrated his keyboard dexterity) and Solomon Burke's gospel-ish Cry To Me. And that was just the first half. Carol is happy to tackle songs usually associated with male vocalists and she started part two with a raucous version of Bryan Adams' rocker Summer Of 69. If you have never seen Mayhem, ask Billy to perform Light My Fire, the Doors rock classic from 1967. This was a sheer musical masterclass as he re-created both vocally and instrumentally this great song. Billy has a rich, tuneful voice and this was a stunning performance. Other highlights in the second half included Journey's rock anthem Don't Stop Believing, Carol's gritty interpretation if Shania Twain's Man I Feel Like A Woman and a fine performance of Bon Jovi's Living On A Prayer A total of 24 songs and I cannot wait to see this duo again. My only concern is their name. I think many club and pubgoers might think Mayhem are a heavy metal band rather than an all-round, top class duo. COLIN FENN, DJ, Freelance Journalist Colin Fenn, DJ - Freelance Journalist, Thursday 5 October 2023"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Ken played the day 2 of our wedding in April 2026. He brought great enthusiasm and re-energized the crowd after the evening before! Ken had a wide repertoire and knew how to get the crowd dancing! He was a pleasure to deal with in the run up and all communications were swift and clear. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Ken for any event."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Big thank you to Lin Taylor, who stole the show last weekend (Bold Forester 12/03/22)."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Saw the duo last night in Midhurst. Really enjoyable to watch with a great sound and a great repertoire . Highly recommended"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Mark performed solo at our wedding and wowed everyone. He did an incredible hour long set during our drinks reception in the sun followed by another hour during dinner. Half way into his second set during dinner guests ended up filling the dancefloor instead of eating, he was that good! I’d recommend in a heartbeat, he’s an absolute gentleman and infectious performer with an incredible voice delivering the very best music. Mark delivered on everything we asked for and more. Thank you Mark!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Kanela and her band delivered an incredible performance! Their energy was contagious, creating the perfect vibe for our hotel event. It was exactly what we needed—fun, engaging, and truly unforgettable. Highly recommended!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Oh what a night! Drove from Montgomery (about 1.5 hrs) to see this show. The energy was high and palpable throughout the entire venue which was SRO ! Rock Mob sounded great with clear voices and heavenly high notes, true arena rock from the 70's, 80's and 90's ! Band has a stage presence that will take you in and never let go! We sang and danced through the night to every song performed! Musicianship of this band is extreme, all of it's members are totally next level performers, thank you for the memories!. Kudos to their leader Jason Harlow and his phenomenal guitar skills, your music was heard across the Land of Oz! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you guys for last night! Everyone loved you! X "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Absolutely fantastic band and really great personalities, what a great night we had start to finish and would highly recommend and hire these guys again! Thank you ever so much for a top night and we had loads of reviews from our guests on the choice of music and performance. Brilliant !!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Dr. Saxy is amazing! When he plays, the room is filled with soft and smooth jazz, his style compliments the mood of any event while adding a touch of class. You are truly an amazing and talented musician!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Smooth Criminals played at our wedding in South Wales and we couldn't have made a better choice, they were true professionals. Communication was great in the lead up to the day and they were super accommodating of all our requests. On the day, they ran the evening entertainment without a hitch, flexing their sets to the late running of day. Their talent, combined with the high quality equipment they use resulted in a professional sound and incredible performance - we had so many complements from guests during and after the event, many of whom are musicians themselves."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Katy smashed it! The energy was perfect She played all my favourites. Thank you. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The perfect rhythm for your party This is a band of "crazy" people—but the good kind of crazy! They do everything possible to make your celebration truly unique. They were incredibly accommodating with all our requests and absolutely perfect during the live performances—from a relaxed aperitif to a high-energy post-dinner concert that had everyone dancing non-stop. And the final DJ set kept the party going until late at night! They delivered over six hours of continuous music, fully immersing themselves in our amazing celebration. The real highlight? The wedding march played live during the ceremony—an unforgettable touch! To sum it up, if it’s not already clear: trust them—you won’t be disappointed!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great and excellent music very enjoyable, he did a special song request for my daughter and she absolutely loved it"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"He was really good! The way he plays the saxophone is incredible — the sound is so smooth and captivating, I absolutely love it. You can tell he has a real passion for his craft. On top of that, he’s such an awesome person, making the whole experience even better. He’s not just talented, but also friendly and easy to connect with. I definitely recommend him to anyone looking for amazing saxophone music!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: